JOHN LEO HAMM
DOROTHY JEAN (SHEBIEL) HAMM

John Leo and Dorothy Hamm

John Leo Hamm, 73, of Astoria, formerly of Browning, died Saturday, June 18, 2011, in Rushville and his wife Dorothy Jean Hamm, 68, died Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Astoria Gardens in Astoria.

John was born Feb. 24, 1938, in Browning, a son of Willis and Doris Lane Hamm. Dorothy was born Oct. 20, 1942, in Wahoo, Neb., a daughter of Albert and AuVern Williams Shebiel. They were married on May 19, 1961, in Beardstown.

Surviving are three children, John Bryan (and Terri) Hamm of Yorktown, Va., Denise (and David) Blackburn of Brooklyn and Jeffrey (and Bridget) Hamm of Astoria; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. John also is survived by one brother, Robert (and Rosie) Hamm of Browning; and four sisters, Clara June Little and Lois (and Pete) Hamm, both of Browning, and Bette Lybarger and Linda Pierson, both of Beardstown. Dorothy also is survived by one brother, Larry (and Margaret) Wagner of Beardstown; one sister, Mary Alice Varley of Tucson, Ariz.; and one stepsister, Geraldine Wagner of Long Beach, Calif.

John was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Bechard and Delores Hamm; and three brothers, Richard, Charles and Roger Hamm.

Dorothy was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Shebiel; and one sister, Sally Icenogle.

John served four years in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS SEACAT SS-399 and was a member of Guthrie-Pierce VFW Post #1239 in Beardstown.

He was employed with Central Illinois Public Service as a member of the "tree crew", a lineman, a substation troubleshooter, and then a dispatcher prior to his retirement.

Dorothy was formerly employed at Beardstown Elks Club and Virginia Country Club.

A Celebration of Life service for John and Dorothy will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Browning Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Sager Funeral Home in Beardstown and also from 11 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Guthrie-Pierce VFW Post in Beardstown, St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Astoria Gardens Activity Fund.